Vivian Tu (also known as Your Rich BFF) is an American businesswoman, author, and media personality. She is the founder and CEO of Your Rich BFF, a multi-media company that provides financial education.
Early life and education
Tu was born in Baltimore, Maryland as the only child to Chinese immigrant parents. Her mother worked in chemistry and consulting, and her father was a computer programmer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. From an early age, Tu was involved in her parents finances, acting as a translator during financial discussions for her Chinese speaking parents. She graduated valedictorian of Marriotts Ridge High School in 2012, and later moved to Chicago to pursue her bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago.
Career
2016-2021: JP Morgan, Buzzfeed
Following her graduation from the University of Chicago in 2016, Tu started her career as a trader at J.P. Morgan. Tu traded stocks in the industrial, materials, and energy sectors. Finding the stock market world male-centric, and struggling with a new manager that thought she was “too girly to make it in finance,” Tu transitioned into a digital media sales role at BuzzFeed. Tu became the top-earning salesperson at the news company. Knowing her background in finance, friends and colleagues began asking Tu for financial advice. Tu found success breaking down complicated financial jargon into digestible content and sharing it online.
2021-present: Your Rich BFF, Networth & Chill, Rich AF
Tu started making financial education videos on TikTok in 2021, and left her job at Buzzfeed to become a full-time influencer in 2022. She often covers topics such as saving, investing, and traveling on a budget. Tu has gained a following of 8 million across her platforms, with her largest following on Instagram, as of December, 2024. Tu is represented by William Morris Endeavor since 2022.
In 2023, Tu launched her podcast Networth & Chill, in partnership with Audioboom, to expand upon the financial information she shares on her social platforms. Tu partnered with Vox Media and PS, formerly known as PopSugar, for Season Two of Networth & Chill. On December 26, 2023, Tu released her first book Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset that Will Change Your Life. It became a New York Times bestseller under both the Business and the Advice, How To & Miscellaneous categories.
Awards & recognition
Since 2021, Tu has been named to the Forbes 30 under 30 and Forbes Top Creators lists. She has also been nominated for a Webby award, and multiple Shorty Awards, including a finalist nomination for Branded Series. In 2023, Tu was a Meta Visionary Voices award winner. In 2024, Tu won Best Personal Finance Influencer presented by Bankrate, and Networth & Chill was nominated for Best Business + Finance podcast at the 2024 iHeart Podcast Awards at SXSW. That same year, she also won a Visionary Voices award from TikTok, highlighting prominent and impactful AAPI content creators on the platform. In December, 2024, Tu won the Digital Influencer of the Year Award at the Unforgettable Gala, which celebrates the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander celebrities, influencers and leaders.
Her podcast has been nominated for the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.
Featured in
In December, 2023, Tu appeared on episode 1551 of The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes. Tu was a guest on the January 9, 2024 episode of Not Alone with Valeria Lipovetsky. In December, 2024, Tu was also featured on Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway.
Partnerships
Since 2023, Tu has been a title partner of SoFi bank and helped the launch the Face of Finance campaign, correcting AI gender bias.
Personal life
In June, 2024, Tu married Greg Hunt, in Lake Como, Italy.
References
- Chan-Danisi, Angela. "From Wall Street To TikTok: How Vivian Tu Became "Your Rich BFF" And Empowered A New Generation". Forbes. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- Media, Vox (October 2, 2024). "Vivian Tu, New York Times Bestselling Author and Founder & CEO of Your Rich BFF, Joins Vox Media and PS in Podcast Partnership". Vox Media. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- "Vivian Tu Wants You to Stop Feeling Guilty for Wanting to Get Rich". Cosmopolitan. January 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- Hughes, Lisa (January 11, 2024). ""Your Rich BFF": Vivian Tu is demystifying personal finance to help young people build wealth - CBS Boston". CBS. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Smialek, Jeanna (November 9, 2024). "Vivian Tu, the 'Wall Street Girly,' Wants to Make Wealth More Accessible". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Ensor, Josie (December 16, 2024). "Meet the 'girly' influencer who tells me how women can get rich". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Manning, Rudine (January 28, 2022). "How 'Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu built a massive TikTok following: 'I actually showed people the math'". CNBC. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "How a 28-year-old is transforming the 'male, pale, and stale' personal finance industry to become everyone's 'Rich BFF'". Fortune. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- Yang, Aria. "I made around $100K at JPMorgan and $656K at BuzzFeed. Here's my full salary breakdown and why I recommend job-hopping". Business Insider. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Shriya. "'Your Rich BFF' creator has struck a new deal with Vox Media as the influencer podcasting space heats up". Business Insider. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- Seshagiri, Ashwin; Dang, Mike; Hartocollis, Anemona; Hill, Kashmir; Hughes, Becky; Nerkar, Santul; Holman, Jordyn; Grynbaum, Michael M.; Barry, Ellen (April 19, 2024). "Love, Hate or Fear It: TikTok Has Changed America". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- Marshall, Lucy (July 8, 2024). "'Rich' Wall Street worker shares how to get money back if flight is delayed". The Mirror. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- "'Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu: How Rich People Get Hidden Travel Perks by Investing". Yahoo Finance. January 24, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- Chan, J. Clara (June 10, 2022). "'Your Rich BFF' Creator Vivian Tu Signs With WME". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- Networth and Chill (Talk-Show), March 22, 2023, retrieved August 26, 2024
- "Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. January 24, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "Exclusive: Vivian Tu (Aka Your Rich BFF) Explains How to Bank Like a Rich Person in This Excerpt of 'Rich AF'". Cosmopolitan. December 15, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- "Business Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 31, 2023 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Jan. 14, 2024 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- Bertoni, Steven. "Top Creators 2023". Forbes. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "Richer Lives - The Shorty Awards". Shorty Awards. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- Stephan, Katcy (October 31, 2022). "Meta Unveils Inaugural Class of 'Creators of Tomorrow' with Drew Afualo, Sydney Bell and More". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "The 2024 Bankrate Visionaries | Bankrate Awards". Bankrate. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- "Visionary Voices: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month". Newsroom | TikTok. August 16, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "Visionary Voices: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month". Newsroom | TikTok. August 16, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- Fell, Nicole (December 17, 2024). "Hiroyuki Sanada, 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and More Honored at 2024 Unforgettable Gala". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- White, Nicholas (December 16, 2024). "'Shogun' Star Hiroyuki Sanada, Stephanie Hsu and Joan Chen on Asian Representation in Hollywood: 'Step by Step, They Are Understanding Our Culture'". Variety. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- Schultz, Jeremiah (December 27, 2023). "The Investing Expert: How I Went From $0-$1M By 30 (Anyone Can Do THIS!) | Vivian Tu". Lewis Howes. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- "Unlock Your Financial Freedom: Getting Rich with Vivian Tu | Not Alone Podcast". www.notalonepod.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ""Pivot" TikTok Ban Looms, Trump's AI & Crypto Czar, and Guest Vivian Tu (Podcast Episode 2024) - Plot". IMDb. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- "SoFi Says It's Time To Change The Face Of Finance And Highlight Womens' [sic] Financial Success". SoFi. June 22, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- Blount, Leslie (June 28, 2023). "SoFi's Campaign Corrects AI's Gender Bias". www.adweek.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- "Vivian Tu of Your Rich BFF Is Married! See Every Photo From Her Wedding Weekend on Lake Como, Which Honored Her Chinese Heritage". Brides. Retrieved December 23, 2024.